Drone News Roundup: Mavic 3 Pro Leaks, Tour of Rome by Drone, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
13 April 2023This week we’re covering a recent leak about the DJI Mavic 3 Pro that makes it look like it will be the first DJI drone ever with three cameras.
We’re also covering a cinematic drone tour of Rome, a drone light show made to promote the new Super Marios Bros. movie, Matternet’s FAA approval to have one pilot fly 20 drones at once, and the FAA’s annual Drone Safety Day.
Now let’s get to those links!
Mavic 3 Pro Leaks—First DJI Drone with 3 Cameras
Mavic 3 Pro combo with RC Pro pic.twitter.com/fTfIMwk4e6
— 航拍世家 打手 (@DealsDrone) April 5, 2023
The Mavic 3 already has six different versions—the Cine, the Standard, the Classic, the Enterprise, the Thermal, and the Multi-Spectral. And now it looks like a seventh version is getting ready to hit the shelves. In a recent leak, drone industry insider @DealsDrone shares the cover of a Mavic 3 Pro box (shown above), revealing that its launch could be just around the corner. According to the leaks, it looks like the 3 Pro will come with the RC Pro controller and could be the first DJI drone ever to have a camera module with three different lenses. (It’s still unclear exactly which three cameras the drone will feature.) But we may know soon—according to leaker @JasperEllens, the Mavic 3 Pro “will be in stores very soon.”
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Take a Tour of Rome by Drone
This video made by Mauro Sciambi was one of the 10 winners in SkyPixel’s 8th Annual Photo & Video Contest. The video features beautiful aerial footage of Rome, including shots of famous landmarks like the Colosseum and the Vatican. Rome was founded on April 21 in 753 B.C., which means it turned 2,775 years old last April. The day is a holiday in the city, celebrated with historical reenactments, parades, and pretend gladiator fights. This video was made to commemorate that day—in Latin, the name of the video translates to Birthday of Rome 2,775.
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Super Mario Bros. Drone Light Show
This drone light show was recently put on just south of the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles, CA to promote the new Super Mario Bros. movie. The show was sponsored by Nintendo and featured over 600 light show drones, creating iconic Super Mario characters in the night sky like Mario, Luigi, and the bad guy Bowser. The Santa Monica pier is becoming a popular place for drone light shows—Paris Hilton’s media company 11:11 Media sponsored one there a few months back, which is also worth watching.
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Matternet Gets FAA Approval to Fly 20 Drones with One Pilot
Credit: Matternet
Matternet recently secured a waiver from the FAA that gives it permission to have one pilot simultaneously fly 20 drones at the same time. The waiver also allows the pilot to fly BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight). But when it comes to where the pilot can fly, it’s very limited, restricting operations to Matternet’s test site in Pittsburg, CA. The waiver requires the presence of a visual observer to ensure the skies are clear during operations, but the pilot will be allowed to fly beyond that observer’s line of sight as well. Matternet plans to use the waiver to test drone deliveries with a fleet of drones being operated by a single pilot.
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FAA’s Annual Drone Safety Day
The FAA’s annual Drone Safety Day (DSD) will be held at the end of the month, on April 29, 2023. According to the FAA, as of January this year there are 871,000 drones registered in the U.S. and over 307,000 certified Remote Pilots. With the growing adoption of drones for work and fun, it’s more important than ever that people understand how to fly them safely. This year, DSD will highlight the societal, economic, and safety benefits of safe drone operations, featuring in-person, virtual, and hybrid events in key focus areas that include Education, Economics, Equity, Environment, and Emergencies. Follow the link below to see the full schedule for the day.
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